SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE/MADRID, March 30 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Canary Islands registered more than 2.1 million overnight stays in tourist apartments in February, 14.8% more than in the same month last year but still 10.4% less than before the pandemic, according to data published this Thursday by the National Statistics Institute (INE).
The archipelago led the occupation with 84.9% of the apartments offered and an average stay of 8.45 days and of the total number of overnight stays, just over two million corresponded to foreign tourists.
By tourist area, Tenerife was the preferred destination, with 703,317 overnight stays, while Gran Canaria had the highest occupancy rate, with 87.8% of the apartments offered.
The tourist spots with the highest number of overnight stays in February were San Bartolomé de Tirajana (Gran Canaria), Arona (Tenerife) and Tías (Lanzarote).
In the country as a whole, overnight stays in tourist apartments increased by 17.5% in February compared to the same month in 2022, those of residents increased by 6.8% and those of non-residents by 21.1%.
The average stay increased by 3.3%, standing at 5.6 overnight stays per traveller.
In February, 34.9% of the places offered by the tourist apartments were occupied, 11.7% more than in the same month of 2022 and the degree of occupancy by places on weekends stood at 38.7% , with an increase of 8%.
Overnight stays by non-residents in tourist apartments represented 77.1% of the total. The United Kingdom was the main issuing market, with 900,485, followed by Germany, with 399,901.
In general, overnight stays in non-hotel tourist accommodation in Spain (apartments, campsites, rural tourism accommodation and hostels) exceeded 6 million last February, compared to the 5.3 million registered in the same month of 2022, which represents an increase of 13.5%.
The organization has highlighted that it is the second consecutive month in which non-hotel overnight stays exceed those of the same month of 2019, before the pandemic.
The boost registered in the second month of the year was a consequence, above all, of the 18.7% year-on-year increase in overnight stays made by foreigners.
Those of the Spanish also increased, although more moderately, 2.7%.
Of the more than 6 million overnight stays, 1.79 million were made by residents of Spain, 2.5 million by visitors from the EU and 1.79 million by travelers from the rest of the world.
The average stay in February stood at 4.8 overnight stays per traveler.
In the first two months of the year, overnight stays in apartments, campsites, rural tourism accommodation and hostels increased by 18.3% compared to the same period in 2022.
The Tourist Apartment Price Index (IPAP) rose 9.4% in February compared to the same month in 2022, the Campsite Price Index (IPAC) rose 4.8%, and the Rural Tourism Price Index (IPTR ) 6.1%.
INCREASE IN CAMPSITES
Overnight stays in campsites registered an increase of 6% in February compared to the same month in 2022. Those of residents decreased by 4.3%, while those of non-residents increased by 10.2%.
During February, 46.2% of the plots offered were occupied, 2.6% more than in the same month of 2022. The degree of occupancy on weekends reached 47.6%, with an annual increase of 1. 3%.
73.9% of overnight stays in campsites were made by non-resident travelers. Germany was the main issuing market, with 35.6% of the total of non-residents, 13.2% more than in February 2022.
Comunitat Valenciana was the preferred destination for campsites, with 670,086 overnight stays, which represents an increase of 8.4% in the annual rate. It also reached the highest degree of occupancy, with 71.3% of the plots offered.
By tourist area, the Costa Blanca (Alicante) was the preferred destination, with 334,190 overnight stays. This area also presented the highest degree of occupancy, with 86.3% of the plots offered.
The tourist spots with the most overnight stays were Benidorm, Cartagena and Vélez-Málaga.
RURAL TOURISM CONTINUES TO INCREASE
Overnight stays in rural tourism accommodation presented an annual increase of 2.8% in February. Those of residents decreased by 3.2%, while those of non-residents grew by 29.9%.
In rural tourism accommodation, 12.6% of the beds were occupied, 2.3% more than in February 2022. The degree of occupancy on weekends stood at 26.9%, with an annual decrease 2.6%.
By Autonomous Community, Castilla y León was the preferred destination, with 84,093 overnight stays, 1.9% more than in February 2022. The Canary Islands reached the highest occupancy rate, with 41.0% of the places offered.
By tourist area, the Pyrenees was the preferred destination, with 30,236 overnight stays. The Corona Forestal Natural Park reached the highest occupancy, with 50.9% of the places offered.
With regard to hostels, 290,667 overnight stays were registered, which represents an annual increase of 22.7%. Those of residents increased by 15.6% and those of non-residents by 30.5%. 20.0% of the places were occupied, 14.1% more than in February 2022.
The weekend occupancy rate reached 24%, with an increase of 0.7%.
Comunidad de Madrid was the preferred destination, with 69,964 overnight stays. It also reached the highest occupancy, with 54.8% of the places offered.
